Best Beautiful Parks In Milwaukee Near Me

4worldlovers: Whether it’s the paved trails that wind around sculpted rolling hills or the small oaks that are growing into mighty giants or the stunning views of Milwaukee’s skyline, nature and impressive views await you at every corner of the award-winning Three Bridges Park, a 24-acre urban oasis in the Menomonee River Valley.

Located along the Menomonee River between 27th and 37th Streets, Three Bridges Park was once part of a wild rice marsh, then a rail yard, and then a vacant site for decades. Through passion, persistence, and partnership, Three Bridges Park opened in 2013 and is enjoyed by more than 50,000 visitors each year.

Three Bridges Park isn’t visible from the street. There are four convenient places to park from which you can walk into the park. The map above shows where you may park or you may download a PDF.

Street parking on W Canal St across from Ingeteam (3550 W Canal Street). Pay attention to posted signs as parking permissions vary, especially when the Brewers are playing (see schedule here).

Behind Palermo’s Pizza at the south end of 33rd Court.


In the parking lot behind (to the north of) the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservancy (The Domes, 524 S Layton Boulevard).

This park is more than a pretty place. The Urban Ecology Center uses it as their outdoor science classroom to give kids hands-on experiences to explore waterways, native flora and fauna, and regional history. It is a place where volunteers nurture the land for future generations. It is a quiet place of respite in the heart of the city. It is a Milwaukee destination for outdoor recreation and learning.

Rolling Hills - Hills were built to resemble natural glacial landforms (kames, drumlins, and eskers) to teach children about southeast Wisconsin’s natural topography in true to life form and almost to scale.


River Restoration - Stones and boulders were added to the river to vary the direction of water flow and improve fish habitat.

Natural Stormwater Filtration - Swales, a low area of land that collects stormwater, were designed to manage water runoff, filter pollutants, and increase rainwater infiltration.

Snake Hibernacula - Underground chambers provide a home where snakes can safely spend the winter protected from the cold.

Wildlife & Native Vegetation - The list of native plants and animals, those that were here long before the 1800s, grows each year. Read more in the Urban Ecology Center’s 2017 Community Science Review.

Community Scientists - The Urban Ecology Center welcomes community and professional scientists to Three Bridges Park to perform research and observe the wildlife. Read more in the Urban Ecology Center’s 2017 Community Science Review.

Can I reserve space or hold an event in Three Bridges Park?

Three Bridges Park is available on a first-come, first-served basis. There are no grills or open flames allowed due to the prairie grass. There is one small platform that could fit one picnic table near the 33rd Court bridge and a cement platform near the Domes bridge. Note that there are no picnic tables or garbage bins in the park due to maintenance costs. Please be respectful of all park users and remove everything you bring in so we can keep a clean, green park for all. There are no restrooms in the park. The closest restrooms are in the Urban Ecology Center (3700 W Pierce Street) or in the picnic area of Mitchell Park.

Why isn’t the Hank Aaron State Trail plowed in the winter?

Currently, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources does not have funding to plow the Hank Aaron State Trail; however, partners at the City of Milwaukee generally plow from Selig Drive east to 25th Street, and adjacent property owners generally take care of the path in front of their buildings east from 25th up to about 11th Street.

On Saturday, July 20, 2013, Three Bridges Park opened to the public with a dedication and family celebration. It is the largest park developed in Milwaukee in decades and marks the continued transformation of the Menomonee River Valley into an asset for families, children, fishers, hikers, bikers, boaters, businesses, and employees in the area.

4worldlovers: Parks are listed alphabetically below. To search for parks, add our new Parks Explorer web app to your phone for an interactive map and more.

Milwaukee County Parks manages over 15,000 acres in Milwaukee County. This includes natural areas, beaches, parkways and the managed parks below. Each park is managed by a unit of our operations team.